LA Weekly: Who I Be

People have asked me several times why on my website I have a section dedicated to how I want to be referred to in the media.

Acceptable

Journalist

Political Commentator

Community Activist

Unacceptable

Lesbian activist

Blogger

Gay activist

Black lesbian blogger

Black N***** B**** or any other variation of those words

For me it’s simple, if you don’t let people know they will place their own labels on you and frankly I’m not having it.

At this point in my life, I am clear about who I am, what I do, and how I wish to be labeled for others and let me tell you, “black lesbian blogger” isn’t one of the labels I’d ever choose to define myself.

Now this isn’t an issue I have with the Black media. Having written for the Black media for about ten years now and having appeared on countless radio and television shows, I can tell you that depending on the context of the story, I am a journalist, a political commentator, or even a community activist. What I am not is a Black journalist, a Black political commentator, or a Black community activist. Probably because it’s obvious that I am Black, but more importantly because it’s irrelevant. As is my sexual orientation. Unless it’s specifically tied to story, there’s no need to mention that either.

Now this isn’t the first time someone over at the LA Weekly has referred to me as such and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to just be happy that the LA Weekly linked to lil ole’ me so never mind how they refer to me, but that’s not the case. I really could care less if the LA Weekly links to me, refers to me, or even reads my website, especially if it means that I have to be labeled as a “black lesbian blogger.” And I mean that, quote me, but just not as a “black lesbian blogger” please.

The piece that I wrote had nothing to do with my sexual orientation or race, other than the fact that Reverend Sims is Black and so am I, so I am confused as to why it was even relevant in the first place for the LA Weekly to even label me as Black and lesbian.

I’ve worked too hard to be solely defined by sexual orientation and race.

I am not a professional gay. I am not even a professional Black gay. I am just a professional.

I am also not in the closet. I came out dressed a long time ago, so that’s not the issue and at point this point in my life, wouldn’t even be an option.

So it’s really trivializing when the media feels the need to label my race and yes, my sexual orientation when referring to me. Just because I am both doesn’t extend carte blanche to tack the words “Black” and “lesbian” before my name—no matter what the subject—politics, healthcare, music.

I am more than who I sleep with—correction. I am more than who I would be sleeping with if I was sleeping with someone in the first place and it marginalizes me and presents an immediate bias for readers every time I am incorrectly labeled as a “black lesbian blogger.” It says, hey—before you read this, know this, she’s Black and she’s a lesbian.

That’s a prejudice I can do without, even it’s the LA Weekly. So Steven Mikulan, thanks, but no thanks.

And for the record…

Unapologetically Black, Jasmyne Cannick is known for addressing the issues that others can’t or simply won’t. At 31, Jasmyne is a lot of things, but just a blogger she is not.

Jasmyne is a critic and commentator based in Los Angeles who writes about the intersection of pop culture, race, class, and politics as played out in the African-American community. An award-winning freelance journalist who works in politics, Jasmyne was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World and is a frequent voice on National Public Radio. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Ebony Magazine and more. She currently works as a political consultant in California on local and state campaigns.

Jasmyne A. Cannick

Jasmyne Cannick is a nationally known writer and commentator on political, race and social issues. She was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World, one of the Most Influential African-Americans in Los Angeles Under 40, one of Los Angeles’ Most Fascinating Angelenos by the L.A. Weekly and one of 40 People Under 40 by the Advocate. She’s worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and at all levels of government helping to shape public opinion and encourage civic engagement while advocating for underrepresented and marginalized communities in the political arena. Learn more here.

What do you think?

kayman

You are a bad, bad chick in my book. I hate how the world does try to make us label. You are NOT a label whore and shouldn’t be treated as such.

Y’know, as a journalist and blogger who happens to be Black, I feel ya when people want to describe you as a “Black journalist” or “Black blogger” or “Black whatever.” It doesn’t happen to White journalists and bloggers and it shouldn’t happen to anyone else because of their gender, sexuality or race.

As a former journalist and another blogger who happens to be black and LGBT, I completely understand where you’re coming from.

Serious Sistah

Jasmyne, you make a great point, and I think it goes beyond journalists and activists. I used to catch myself telling stories and describing people by race, sexual orientation, etc., when the stories didn’t involve any of those things. At a certain point, I realized that I would catch an attitude–quickly–if someone took the time to mention my race when it was irrelevant, so I’m trying to stop doing that to others.